Prop Kashley Watkins and second-row/loose-forward Dane Manning, both 19, have signed after impressing during a trial spell in Rhinos' lower grades.

Watkins is the elder brother of Rhinos' England Academy centre Kallum, who was among the try scorers in last Friday's Super League win at Wigan, while Manning recently returned from a Great Britain amateur tour to Australia.

"Realistically, I think they have both got chances of becoming a Super League players," said Rhinos' head of youth performance John Bastian.

"Kashley was playing at Sale Sharks, in reserve grade rugby union and he's also been at Warrington Wolves in their junior system.

"We are starting to develop him as a front-rower. We need to physically build him up and get some size on him and also work on his athleticism and his speed, but he has got a good attitude.

"Dane is from Dewsbury Celtic under-18s and has just been on the BARLA youth tour to Australia.

"They have both been at the club for about three months on a trial basis and both have impressed the coaching staff with how they have played, their attitude and their application towards training."

Bastian said Manning's signing should give hope to other young players who don't get snapped up by professional clubs in their early teens.

"His development has come a bit later," he said. "But it is important we recognise how strong under-18 football is.

"If you look back over the last two or three years at Leeds Rhinos we have signed Ben Jones-Bishop, Jodie Broughton, Ryan Hall and Joe Howey from under-18 football and the first three of those have already played Super League.

"Ryan Hall has played a lot of games at first-grade level. It shows if you aren't signed as a 16-year-old it is not the end of the world. There's still plenty of opportunities.

"Players develop at different stages of their careers and it is a key area for Leeds Rhinos."